Waterproof versus cotton cast liners: a randomized, prospective comparison.

Casting injured extremities can cause complications (eg, itching, odor, rashes, skin maceration), many of which are associated with the inability to wash the extremity because of water retention and slow drying of conventional cast liners. A waterproof cast liner allows casts to become wet and perhaps improves hygiene and comfort. Fifty-nine patients (age, > or = 10 years) with upper or lower extremity injuries were randomized to a waterproof-liner group (n = 29) or a cotton-liner group (n = 30).

Tobramycin-impregnated calcium sulfate prevents infection in contaminated wounds.

Open fractures often are associated with increased rates of infection and nonunion, multiple surgical procedures, and delayed return to preinjury activity. Antimicrobial bone graft substitutes used as an alternative to antibiotic cement beads and/or delayed autologous bone grafting may provide a useful adjunct in patients with open fractures. A stable, unicortical defect was created and contaminated with 30 microL of 5 x 10 colony-forming units/mL of Staphylococcus aureus in the proximal tibial metaphysis of Spanish goats.

In vivo comparison of a metal versus a biodegradable suture anchor.

Purpose: This protocol compares an absorbable polylactic acid (PLA) anchor to a similarly sized metallic anchor, comparing the load to failure of the suture anchor construct in vivo in a goat model.

Type Of Study: Basic science.

Methods: Thirty-nine goats underwent bilateral implantation of suture anchors at the intra-articular origin of the long digital extensor tendon at the knee (stifle).